A magnetic write head and method of manufacture thereof that has a first pole structure having a notched structure configured with a steep shoulder portion and a narrow vertical notch portion extending from the top of the steep shoulder portion. The write head also includes a second pole structure (P2) that has a very narrow width (track width) and that is self aligned with the narrow vertical notch structure of the first pole structure. The write head provides excellent magnetic properties including a very narrow track width and minimal side writing, while avoiding magnetic saturation of the poles.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A magnetic write head for use in magnetic data recording, the write head comprising: a first magnetic pole structure; a second magnetic pole structure (P2); and a non-magnetic write gap sandwiched between the first magnetic pole structure and the second magnetic pole structure (P2); and wherein the first magnetic pole structure includes first and second steep shoulders, and a narrow vertical notch portion extending from the top of the first and second steep shoulders; wherein the write head has an air bearing surface ABS, the write head further comprising laterally extending wing portions formed in the first pole structure, the laterally extending wing portions being recessed from the ABS; and further comprising an ion mill resistant bump formed over the first pole structure in the region of the laterally extending wing portions.
2. A write head as in claim 1 wherein the steep shoulders each form an angle of 30-60 degrees with respect to a plane parallel with the planes of the layers making up the write head.
3. A write head as in claim 1 wherein the write gap has a thickness and the narrow vertical notch portion of the first pole extends from the shoulders to the write gap a distance that is 0.5 to 2 times the gap thickness.
4. A write head as in claim 1 wherein the write gap has a thickness and the narrow vertical notch portion of the first pole extends from the shoulders to the write gap a distance that is about 1.5 times the gap thickness.
5. A write head as in claim 1 wherein the write gap has a thickness and the narrow vertical notch portion of the first pole extends from the shoulders to the write gap a distance that is about equal to the gap thickness.
6. A write head as in claim 1 , wherein: the steep shoulders terminate at base; the write gap has a thickness G; and the steep shoulders and narrow vertical notch portion together define a total notch height measured from the write gap to the base of the steep shoulders, the total notch height being 4 to 6 times G.
7. A write head as in claim 1 , wherein: the steep shoulders terminate at a base; the write gap has a thickness; the gap has a thickness G; and the steep shoulders and narrow vertical notch portion together define a total notch height measured from the write gap to the base of the steep shoulders, the total notch height being about 5 times G.
8. A write head as in claim 1 , wherein the narrow vertical notch portion is laterally aligned with the second pole portion P2.
9. A write head as in claim 1 wherein the narrow vertical notch portion and the second pole P2 has each have a laterally measured width no greater than 0.5-5 times the gap thickness G.
10. A write head as in claim 1 wherein the laterally extending wing portions are recessed from the ABS by a distance of 0.5-10 times the gap thickness G.
11. A write head as in claim 1 wherein the ion mill resistant bump comprises alumina.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
September 15, 2005
November 3, 2009
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